The 16Lab ring isn’t the first of its kind. Earlier this year, California-based Nod unveiled a gesture-control ring that can be used for applications such as typing with an on-screen keyboard or controlling a smartphone’s music player.

It’s part of a larger wearables move away from touchscreens as a user interface, with the aim of freeing people from the need to look at and touch a mobile device to control it.

“We want to carry computing power to something outside the display,” said 16Lab CEO Ko Kijima, who believes his ring is more accurate than that of Nod.

“Our ring has exclusively custom-made components that are built for safety and reliability. That’s going to be a great differentiator compared with other startup companies.”

The company will start preorder sales this year and plans to begin shipping the rings in 2015, mainly targeted at developers.

They will be available in Japan and seven other countries. 16Lab has not announced other details about the ring, including its official name or a price.